Pencil



July 28, 1953 J. A.'v|ER|.|NG A PENCIL Filed Oct. 16, 1950 knul! IIE 8 mG I 5 mN a .a ..r w V A N H O .J 5 4l EDB a l lllv Patented July 28, 1,953`

PENCIL .lohn A. Vierling, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Brown & Bigelow, St. P aul, Minn., a Lcorporation of Minnesota Application October 16, 1950, Serial No. 190,355

Claims. (Cl. 1Z0-17) My invention relates to a pencil wherein the lead may be propelled and retracted by turning the tip of the pencil, or the barrel when the tip is held stationary, to causethe writing lead to be projected or retracted into the barrel. rlhe lead may also be projected out of the writing end of the pencil by pressing downwardly on the tip of the pencil out of which the writing lead ordinarily projects. This operation causes a portion of the barrel to telescope against the action of an internal spring, and when the downward pressure on the writing tip is released, the action of an internal clutch rotates the lead propelling .mechanism to p-roject a predetermined amount of lead out of the writing end of the pencil.

My pencil is designed to combine the rordinary lead propelling and retracting mechanism which is anchored in the forward end of the pencil with a clutch means, which causes the propelling mechanism to be rotated on the upward movement of the clutch within the barrel. This ccmbination of elements performs a function oi forcing the writing lead out of the tip of the pencil'a degree at a time each time the-pencil is pressed downward on a solid surface and then released.

The writing lead is supported in the propelling l and retracting mechanism in a lead socket which receives the rear end of the lead to hold it firmly in the inner tube of the propelling and' retracting mechanism, whereas the socket which holds the lead is adapted to be driven by a spiral member extending around the center tube which holds the lead and the lead socket. A'tooth-like member extends from the rear end of the socket to engage in the spiral groove which forms the propelling and retracting member of the mechanism of the pencil. The propelling mechanism is also provided with a central ejecting rod which extends through the socket, which holds the lead, but in an operative position is positioned rearwardly from the front edge of the socket to Ipermit the lead to extend into the socket and bear against the ejecting rod as a shoulder.

the unused portion of the writing lead. This mechanism for propelling' and retracting the lead is not in itself new, and I have illustrated the same inthe drawings diagrammatically. I-Iowever, I have combined this mechanism with a the ejecting clutch will fail to operate.

clutch means for operating the same to cause the writing lead to be driven out of the writing tip of the pencil by merely pressing down on the writing end of the pencil, which telescopes a portion of the barrel and causes my clutch mechanism to eject a predetermined amount of lead out of the writing tiprof the pencil when the downward pressure is relieved and the barrel expands to its normal size.

The manner in which I accomplished the automatic operation of yejecting the lead by pressing down on the writing tip is obtained by extending Ythe center tube of the lead ejecting and retracting means rearward in the pencil and mounting or forming a spiral groove on the center tube Vwhich. supports the clutch and on Ywhich the same slidesY in operating the pencil to ejecta portion of the lead. One portion of my clutch is adapted to be fixed to a portion of the pencil barrel and moved with the same. The other portion of the clutch floats around the spiral groove member and over the center tube and is formed with a series of teeth whichare adapted to engage the teeth on the stationary or fixed portion of the clutch. Downward pressure on the pencil, which compresses the spring within the same, causes the floating portion oi the clutch to rotate and ride over the teeth of the stationary portion. When the downward pressure is released, the oating portion of the clutch is held against turning, whereupon the lug within the floating portion which engages the spiral groove, carried by the center tube,

vcauses the center tube to be rotated in the backward movement of the clutch, and Vthereby eject the `lead out of the writing tip, a predetermined amount.

In this manner my simple clutch carried by the rear end of the center tube of the propelling Vand retracting means operates this mechanism to eject a portion of writing lead in a very simple and positive manner, Without clutching jaws engaging the writing lead to force the same out of the writing tip.

I-Ieretofore mechanical pencils for ejecting the lead have ybeenvmade, however, inmost of these types of pencil the clutch mechanism engages directly againstthe writing lead, and such pencils do not operatesatisfactorily because usually there is Asome slippage of the clutch on the writing lead or the writing lead may be worn away or not entirely true to size and form, and then I have overcome this type of lead ejecting means in a simple and apositive manner so as to drive the lead out of the writing tip a degree at a time, whenever pressure is exerted against the writing end oi the lead or tip of the pencil.

Furthermore, I have provided a pencil with the combined function of permitting t1 e lead to be propelled or retracted by turning the writing tip or barrel of the pencil, if it is desired, or the lead may be ejected without turning the tip or the barrel but by simply pressing Adown on the writing tip of the pencil to operate the automatic clutch within the casing. rThis providesI a selector type of pencil with a positive lead feeding clutch means which does not grip the lead itself to propel it. I

In the drawings forming 'p'a'rt of this Vspe-cication:

Figure l is an enlarged 'longitudinal section of my pencil in expanded form.

Figure 2 is a similar section to Figure 'i -`with the pencil barrel compressed and teleseoped to gether,

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail of my clutch, which is mounted on the center tube.

Figure is a section on the line @i-i or" Figure 3 o a clutch element.

Figure 5 is another lor-in of my pencil showing a dirlerent con truction o the barrel.

Figure 6 is a perspective View ol the iront end or" one or the tubes used in my pencil shown in Figure 5.

The drawings illustrate the pencil Ain Figures land 2. Figure l Villustrates the pencil partially in section with some of the other parts in full lines. The writing tip I0 is rotatably mounted on the longitudinally grooved collar I2 Which is anchored in the forward end. II of the pencil. The portion II of the pencil A may be formed of plastic or any other suitable non-metallic material, and ordinarily forms the gripping end for ones fingers in holding the pencil.

The lead holding and propelling and Yretracting means B is old in the art and is shown diagrammatically in-Figure 2 and includes 4the writing tip Il), the collar I2, the spirally wound member I3 which forms the helical lslot I4. The member I3 is xed to the collar I2 and extends down into the saine in its helical form to prov-ide the track for operatingv the lug I5 formed on't'he rear end of the elongated lead socket which is positioned within the slotted tube I5 and the lug I6 formed on the rear end of the plunger rod I6 ywhich projects into the lead socket which travels the tube I5 and into the 'helical slot I'II.

The lead propelling and retracting mechanism B may be operated by turning the rotatable tip I0 while the barrel portion II is held stationary Vor -by holdingthe tip portion'ID stationary and turning the barrel portion-II. In this manner the lead in the propelling mechanism B is caused to move out of or be retracted back Vinto the' Writing tip Il) and into the center tube I'I of this mechanism. As the tip I0 is rotated Aso is the slotted tube I5 which forces the lugs vI5 and I6 `-to follow the spiral slot I4 to retract or project the elongated socket within the slotted tube member I5. Y

In my pencil A l have extended-the Acenter' tube -II which is an extension of the lower tube porltion I5 up into the pencil, a-s illustrated in Figaires 1 and 2. The innereportion-of thecenten tube I'I is enlarged in diameter at I'I' to provide a receptacle for supporting extra leads in the pencil A so as to hold the extra leads I8 positioned in the core of the pencil.

The outer casing portion I9 of the pencil A is adapted to slide on the portion II so that the portion II will telescope into the casing portion I9 when the pencil A is compressedt'ogether.

The inner vend of the 'member II 'is formed square or angular at 20 and is adapted to be engaged by the collar 2 I, which is xed to the casing I9. When the casing I9 is moved longitudinally, the square portion 20 holds the pencil barrel against turning so that the members II and 'I9 of thepencil remain in line and are held against rotation during the telescoping of the pencil. The movement of the casing I9 over the member I I is illustrated in Figure 2 which shows the forward end o the casing I9 moved down over a considerable portion of the part I I during the lcompression of the pencil A.

The portions II and 2Q are integral and are formed with a further extension 22, which provides-a guide for the 'center tube II and the por- A shoulder /23 is formed between the portions 2i) and22 and against this shoulder the washer 24 engagesproviding for a support for one end of the coil'spring 25 which Iextends around the portion`22 and the upper end of which engages Iagainstthe shoulder 26 formed in the clutch member 2l. The clutch 4member 127 is rigidly xed tothe casing I 9 and is adapted to move with the same in the longitudinal'm'ovement of the casing member I9. The movement of the clutch portion 21 is over the outside of the spirally grooved sleeve 28, Which is fixed to the upper portion Il of the center tube, so that 'any rotation of the center tube I1 and the portion I1 will also 'rotate the memberiZ or the member 23 when rotated-will rotate the center tube I'l and operate the lead propelling mechanism B.

`Directly above the fixed clutch portion 21 I provide Sa oating clutch Iportion 29 in the form of a sleeve collar and which is formed with an internal lug 30 adapted 4to engage in the spiral groove 3 I iof the sleeve'm'ember 28.

Operating mechanism B is assembled in ythe pencil A by inserting the same into the open end ofi-the casing member I9 Iat the front of the penciland securingthesame against the tension of the coilrspring 25 'by upsetting the inner end of 'thecente'r tube I'I over V`the conical inner surface ofthe collar 32 at the point3'3.

V Iprovi'de'a tubular eraser supporting-member 34, which is formed with inner shoulders 35,

VYagainst which the lcollar -32 engages when the spring 25 isexpanded, aslillu'strated inigure 1, and which is adapted to .support the eraser 3S which closes-the chamber for the extra leads I8 at the top of the member-34.

I also provide an eraser cap )31, 'which telescopes over the tubular member E34 of vthe pencil fbarrel. l

Inoperating'tlnapencil A tof'ej'ect-a lead Vby VWpressing the 'writing tip :38 .against -a Vxed sur- :spring Y25 and moves the clutch members-21 :and

29 longitudinally of the "center'tube I'fI -into the position illustrated in fFigure 2. lThe -clutch member -21 isffixed to the-casing I9 sothatitwill `move longitudinallyibut will notrotate Whilefthe clutch member 29 floats over the sleeve 28. The lug 30 engages in the helical slot 3| causing the floating clutch member 29 to rotate in relation to the clutch member 21. This operation causes the teeth 39 on the clutch member 29 to ratchet over the teeth 40 on the fixed clutch member 21. This operation advances the floating clutch 29 into position to engage the helical slot 3| in an advanced position so that when the downward pressure on the pencil barrel is released the spring 25 will return the clutch members 21 and 29 to the position illustrated in Figure 1, y and the clutch member 29 through its lug 39 engaging in the helical slot 3| will cause the center tube I1 to rotate suiiiciently to push a lead I8 a predetermined distance out of the end 38 of the pencil tip I0.

It will be apparent that while the xed clutch member 21 travels with the movement of the casing member I9 of the pencil A, the iloating clutch member 29 is engaged by the member 34 and with the aid of gravity travels to a downward position said clutch 29 being rotated by the helical slot 3| so as to advance the clutch made up of the members 21 andr29 into a position to cause the center tube I1 to rotate and drive a writing lead I8 out into writing position.

Therefore, in operating my pencil A all that is necessary for the operator to do when the lead I8 wears off or breaks is to press down on the barrel of the pencil, causing the clutch members 21 and 29 to be positioned in a manner to rotate the center tube of the lead propelling and retracting mechanism B, which ejects the lead a degree or predetermined amount at a time. f

It will also be apparent that in the back strok or movement of the clutch mechanism 21 and 29, the member 29 is held against rotation by reason of the engaging of the teeth 39 and 40, which prevent the member 29 from rotating when it moves longitudinally backward.

The hollow, enlarged end I1 of the center tube I1 provides a storage for extra leads I8 asv heretofore stated, and the collar 32 acts to guide the leads I8 into the centertube I1.

It will be apparent that the construction of the barrel of the pencil A in Figures 1 and 2 provides the telescoping of the portion I9A over the gripping end II of the pencil, and to illustrate another form of the barrel, I have shown Figure v5 which places the telescoping portions at thek rear of the pencil. In this form of the pencil shown in Figure 5 the casing portion I9 engages against the shoulder 4I, and the open end of the tube I9 is at the rear of the pencil. VThus the tube I9 will telescope over the tube 42, and the tube 42 will support the clutch member21 to which it is xed. The clutch member 29" floats about and adjacent to the clutch member 21, as heretofore described, and the sleeve 28 causes the clutch member 29 to operate to rotate lead propelling mechanism B, which is attached to the tip I9 in the same manner as illustrated in Figure 2.

The forward, inner end of the tube 42 is formed with a square portion 43 which engages the square portion 2D" of the end II of the pencil. Thus the tube 42 is held against rotation and in line with the portion II' of the pencil, and when the pencil is compressed to operate the clutch members 21 and 29 the square end 43 rides along longitudinally on the squared portion 20 of the inner end of the member Il.

In the pencil illustrated in Figure 5, I have provided an eraser cap 44 which covers the eraser 6 36.V Enlarged end I1 of the center tube I1 supports the extra leads. f

The construction of the pencil A illustrated in Figure 5 may be the preferred form of my pencil so that the telescoping of the barrel is positioned at the rear of the pencil rather than at the forward end where the pencil is gripped on the portion II when held in writing. The portion II of my pencil may be made of plastic or any other non-metallic material so as to give a soft gripping material for the fingers, and theoperation is extremely simple, yet positive, to move the Writing lead I8 into writing position.

In Figure 2 I have shown a fixed surface 45 against which the tip 38 of the barrel A is being pressed inthe direction of the arrow, while the pencil A is held in a vertical position.

A feature of my pencil which increases its utility and makes it more desirable for the operator is that the lead I8 can be propelled and retracted by holding the barrel and rotating the tip or vice versa. The lead propelling mechanism B is easy to fill after the stub end of the lead has been ejected by the plunger rod I6. It is only necessary to engage the tip IB and rotate the barrel to carry the plunger rod I6' in a retracted position, whereupon the lead can be inserted into the position I8 and forced into the socket of the lead holding means in the mechanism B. Thereafter the pencil is ready to operate, either by holding the barrel I I and rotating the tip end IU, or by holding the tip I9 and rotating the barrel II, or by pressing downward `on the end 38. v

My pencil has. the advantage of quick operation for ej ecting lead by merely pressing down against .the end 38 while the barrel of the pencil is held vertical to permit the floating clutch portion 29 to operate and be set in position to grip the clutch portion 21 and rotate the tube I1, which operates the mechanism B, to push the lead I8 out of the writing tip. Should the user of my pencil A desire to rotate the tip to propel or retract the lead, he may readily do so, as herein set forth. The advantage of this combined operation is apparent because it is often desirable to withdraw the lead into the pencil when it is not desired for use, and while the operator may eject the lead by pressing down on the barrel, it is only necessary to engage the tip and rotate the barrel to retract the lead into the casing of the pencil, thus protecting the user against the projecting lead when the pencil is inserted in the operators pocket. i

.A further advantage of my lead propelling mechanism resides in the fact that to propel the lead by the clutch mechanism 21 and 29 the lead is never engaged by any clutch jaws like has been used in old forms of clutch propelling pencils, but the lead is held protected within the inner tube I1 and rests in the socket in the mechanism y B, and to propel a lead the mechanism B is operated by rotating the lead center tube I1, which positions the lead forward a degree at a time on the backware movement of the clutch members 21 and 29. Thus the operator is always assured that whenever he presses on the tip of the pencil a portion of the lead will be ejected, if there is any lead in the mechanism B. This is an extremely important feature of my pencil. It insures the user of my pencil of positive operation either by rotating the parts of the mechanism B or by pressing down on the writing tip of ehe pencil causing the clutch means to eject the lead.

I claim:

jecting and retracting members shiftable longitudinally by-th'e relative rotation of said parts and including a barrel forf'concealn'lgsaidproj ecting and retracting means, the rear 'end' 10i said projecting means extending into said barrel, a portion of said barrel being adapted to telescope, a coil spring supported in said barrel, a lead voperating clutch 'mountedin saidbarrel and `'extending around said rearwardly projectingportion of said propelling meansfand a sleeve having Aa spiral groove carried by one of saidrelatively rotatable tubular parts of said projecting means over which said clutchis ladapted to operate, said spring holding said clutch in rearward'position and expanding said barrel'to normal position, said clutch including ia xe'd clutch member secured to a wall portion of said barrel and having ratchet teeth fori ed thereon 'and a floating clutch member having ratchet teeth formed thereon and a lug for engaging said spiral groove, said clutch means being adapted to rotate one forward barrelportion on w-hichsaid casing telescopes, a rotatable lead hol'dingprojector and retractor mechanism secured to said lbarrel portion including concentric, relatively rotatable, tubular parts and lead projecting and retraoting members shitable longitudinally by the relative rotation of said parts and including a sleeve secured to one oi said relatively rotatable, tubular parts of said projector mechanism having a spiral groove formed therein, a ilo'ating, toothed clutch having a lug engageable in 'said spiral groove element, a fixed toothed 'clutch member secured to the inner surface or said casing, fand 4spring means holdingsaid casing and said clutch members in a rearward position withrespect to said lead holding mechanism, said teeth of said fixed clutch adapted to ride over said teeth of said floating clutch when said 'easing is telescoped onto said partial barrel and engage said teeth of said iloating clutch when said casing is released to a rearward position to rotate one of said tubular parts of said lead projector mechanism relative to the other and project a lead therefrom, a predetermined amount.

3. In a mechanical pencil, a casing, a rotatable projector-retractor lead holding mechanism com- ,y prising concentric, relatively rotatable, tubular partsv and lead projecting and retracting members shiftable longitudinally by the relative rotation of said parts and including means for mounting said lead holding mechanism in said casing, a spiral sleeve mounted on the inner end cri off-onebfsaid relativelyfrotatable,=tubular 'parts ffs'alidiead holding-mechanism, a iilxed 1` toothed clutehmemb'er 'secur'e'd to said lbasing, and a floating toothed Poli-itch lcoacting rwith said 'xed l tehimemberlan -fhav-ingia lug formed thereon `in enga-'gement fvvith Asai'd'spiral sleeve to rotate Loneloisaidftubular'parts of said mechanism rela- Sti`ve`-to-tlielotherlan'd'project la lead therefrom Wh'en'fsaid casingi's 'pushed downwardly with respect" oisaid leadholderand released.

"14 lin Aa -mechahical pencil, Va casing, a lead -lo diiv g :,prfofeetor-retraetormechanism mounted rsai'd ffca'sing- 'comprising Iconcentric, relatively lrotatable,'-ltubuflar partsand lead vprojecting and retracting members shiftable V"longitudinally :by lthelrelative rotation 1of said 'parts and including a toothed clutch member secured to said casing, '-a floatin'g ltoothedlelutch memberadapte'd toride en andengagesaidtoothedclutch member, a -sleevef'havingla spiral formed thereon -secured'to the'rearilirmer end-bf one of `-said"rela-tively ro- -'taftable,'tubular'parts ofl said -lead hti'lding'mech- "anismfeand a lugv formed von l'said `floating--clutch land ira-engagement with 'said spiral groove so that Afiffhen*sai'd'casing is pushed'downwardly overa portion of sal-id leadI holding mechanism and rev leased said clutchA-members rota-te one of said 'tubular-'parts of :said 'leadholding-'mechanism' rela- -tive` to "the other projecta `lead therefrom, a 'predetermined amount.

5. A mechanical pencil including fa casing, a l'l'eadlprojecting and retracting means comprisvLing ooncentri'dfrelatively rotatable, tubular parts and llea-d vprojecting and retracting members shiftable longitudinally by the rela-tive 'rotation of said parts'and including a lead ej ecting means for 'the stubof the'writing lead, clutch means for `voperating said lead projecting and retrac'ting 1means includin'ga -Xed clutch member connected tosaid casing having ratchet teeth formedthereon, a oating clutch Vmember having ratchet teeth formed thereon "adapted 'to engage with the teeth on'said fixed 'clutch member, va sleeve having a spiral-groove fixed to one 'of said relatively rotatable tubular 'parts of saidlead projecting and retractin'g means, anda lug'ixed to saidfloating clutch member and riding in said spiral groove 'whereby sai'd clutch means is adapted to rotate -oneof 'said tubular parts of said means relative "to the 'other to operate said lead projecting and ire'tracting means'to project the Writing lead a 'degreeat a time'from thepencil.

V'JOHN A. VIERLING.

References Cited-in lthe -iile of this patent 

